Concerns Regarding the $300 Million Bond Proposal for CHCCS and Orange County Schools

[Daniel Head]

Dear Board Members,

I hope this message finds you well. I am a parent of two kindergarteners at Estes Hills Elementary and a resident of Coker Hills West, one of the best neighborhoods in Chapel Hill largely due to the excellent schools our children can walk to. I am writing to share my thoughts and concerns regarding the proposed $300 million bond referendum for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) and Orange County Schools.

While I firmly support investing in public education and enhancing our school infrastructure, I believe the current proposal needs significant revisions to better align with our community’s values and long-term goals. Although I understand that the plan may change over time and that any school closures are years away, I want to emphasize that I plan to vote NO on this crucial investment unless the plan is revised or the vote is postponed until voters' concerns are truly considered. The plan developed by Woolpert lacked input from parents and community members, and overlooks many crucial aspects such as environmental sustainability, equity, transportation, mental health, and community impact. As a parent and community member, I urge you to reconsider placing this referendum on the ballot until a more comprehensive and equitable plan is devised.

Here are my key concerns:

1.     Environmental Sustainability - Walkability and Bikeability: Permanently relocating students from Estes Hills to other schools would necessitate additional bus routes, contradicting our community's commitment to combating climate change. Establishing a new middle school in the northwest corner of the district would further increase reliance on bus transportation, undermining the principles of the NCDOT’s Safe Routes to School program. It is vital to maintain walkable, bikeable school zones to promote physical health and environmental sustainability.

2.     Equity: Placing the district’s only Spanish Dual Language program on the outskirts poses a significant equity issue. Students from areas like Rashkis or Ephesus would face long commutes, disproportionately affecting families without reliable transportation. This arrangement undermines equitable access to education and imposes undue burdens on certain segments of our student population.

3.     Community Impact: The proposed changes would disrupt established neighborhood schools, diminishing the sense of community and local engagement that these schools foster. Schools are central to the heart and spirit of our neighborhoods. Reducing the ability of students to walk or bike to school and increasing reliance on buses and cars would have adverse effects on local relationships and environmental health.

I believe our school system can achieve its goals through alternative, less disruptive solutions. I implore you to pause the bond process and engage in a thorough community vetting process that considers equity, environmental sustainability, and the long-term impact on our neighborhoods. By doing so, we can develop a plan that truly reflects the values of our community and ensures the best possible outcomes for our students.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to a plan that better aligns with the needs and values of our community.

Sincerely,

Daniel Head

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Mr. Head,

On behalf of the Board of Orange County Commissioners, thank you for emailing us about your concerns.

The consultant's study recommends a sequence of new schools, major renovations, and also safety and essential updates for all schools in both school districts in our county. The study provides dollar estimates as well. In NC, the county commission is mandated legal responsibility for funding school facilities.

Under project based funding the county commissioners will approve each major project such as new middle school #5 for CHCCS and a new elementary school for Orange County Schools. Specifically for CHCCS, the bond covers a new middle school, major renovation of Carrboro Elementary and Culbreth Middle, and the basic essential maintenance for every school in the first ten years.  Each school board decides the programming at each of their schools, not the BOCC. The Superintendent brings recommendations forward to the school board who make those decisions. These would include district level programs like dual language, exceptional children's system level classes and pre-k classes. The school boards also approve curriculum, school boundaries/districting and make those types of major policy decisions. Walk zones are part of the considerations of the board of education. You can email the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board at allboar...@chccs.k12.nc.us  I understand this is on the school board's June 6 agenda and there is time for public comment.

I add that our goal is to have a plan for which facilities are built or renovated and in what order, but we have to be flexible because major systems like HVACs don't always follow the warranty timelines and break out of order, or enrollment patterns change, a different wave of refugees may arrive, etc. The BOCC was also told that a K-8 school could replace Estes and Phillips. Those are 10+ years out and much will change by then. The plan will be updated regularly.

We are happy to answer any questions about the school bond. There will be a hearing on the bond, June 4, 7:00 at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough. Residents may speak for up to 3 minutes at the hearing.

Sincerely,

Jamezetta Bedford, Chair

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From: Daniel Head <daniel...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 3:03 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: jand...@townofchapelhill.org <jand...@townofchapelhill.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL MAIL!] Concerns Regarding the $300 Million Bond Proposal for CHCCS and Orange County Schools

 

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Daniel,

Some schools could be temporarily closed  or used as swing space while another school is being renovated depending on the sequencing of projects. 

I think you are asking though about when a school is in really bad condition with inadequate educational spaces AND when school enrollment drops very low in at least two or more schools AND considering the total costs re personnel and transportation etc.  In that case the lead decision-maker on closing a school is the school board. To actually raze a school would require funding and the BOCC would have to ok that.  

In the 32 years I've lived here, we have not been in this situation of declining enrollments so we have no past record to review. Between 1972 and 1992 for twenty years, no new schools were opened in CHCCS. Then there was a great crowding and influx of children and 9 new schools were built and Northside as well about 12 years ago. We also know that for about ten years, very little housing stock was added in Chapel Hill-Carrboro and prices have exploded since the pandemic. More housing permits though have been issued and new housing construction is underway. The large new apartments have not led to student enrollment. The latest housing however includes other types such as townhomes that are predicted to add students. Things are in flux. We have a NC State consultant who works on student enrollment projections tied to these housing patterns. At this time no new capacity is needed for ten years. However, we know that the older schools and even CHS are at timing where they need significant investments or replacement. 

Could the BOCC look at the costs of keeping all of the schools open should enrollment continue to decline and encourage the Board of Ed to close one and redistrict? We do not have the power to directly close them. The BOCC does monitor enrollment annually via the SAPFO agreement. The school boards are closer to the situations and they are best situated to make those determinations. It could be a budget negotiation, I suppose. We meet twice a year in joint meetings with the two school boards. And, the BOCC has one budget spring work session for school operating expenses.  Another consideration is if we do have more space, can we raise funding to add more pre-K classes? There are wait lists for the pre-K classes.  There are lots of factors to consider. 

Last night the BOCC adopted a Framework for School Bond Projects and Capital Funding. It requires at a minimum annual review of the projects and high priority needs capital projects. It goes to a Project-Based method that also requires more oversight by the BOCC. 

The BOCC meets tomorrow re budget and the CHCCS BOE meets about facilities and bond plans. The CHCCS Board chair spoke last night on the Framework agenda item. I expect there will be changes. And, we know there will be at a minimum annual reviews and more changes each year. 

Jamezetta

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From: Daniel Head <daniel...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 3:25 PM
To: Jamezetta Bedford <jbed...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>; jand...@townofchapelhill.org <jand...@townofchapelhill.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL MAIL!] Re: [EXTERNAL MAIL!] Concerns Regarding the $300 Million Bond Proposal for CHCCS and Orange County Schools

 

Hi Jamezetta,

Thank you for your quick response, which I have seen from others who have written in as well. I plan to be at the meeting this evening and will make my concerns known there. While I understand that you're shifting some of the details to the CHCCS school board (to whom I have also written), what remains unclear in your response is who will be responsible for deciding to close down and raze schools. This "detail" will impact thousands of lives, arguably negatively, and should it remain a minimized point in any proposal, or left as "TBD", my vote will remain no to the bond.

Many thanks,

Daniel